WASHINGTON  Former superlobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felony counts of fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion, agreeing to help prosecutors in a wide-ranging probe of corruption in Congress.

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will pay at least $25 million in restitution to those he defrauded, as part of the plea deal.

By Gerald Herbert, AP

Abramoff told U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle, "I plead guilty, your honor," in a soft voice as each count was read. "All my remaining days, I will feel tremendous sadness and regret for my conduct," he added before leaving the courtroom.

Abramoff had close ties to Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas and other legislators. Over the past six years, Abramoff and Indian tribes he represented gave more than $4.4 million in political contributions to more than 240 lawmakers, nearly two-thirds to Republicans.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Tuesday became the latest to unload Abramoff-tainted money, announcing he would give more than $60,000 to charity.

EXPERIENCE: Lobbyist with Greenberg Traurig, Jan. 2001-March 2004; founder of Eshkol Academy, a school for Orthodox Jews in Montgomery County, Md., 2001; lobbyist with Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, 1994-2001; Hollywood film producer as president of Regency Entertainment Group, 1986-94; director, Citizens for America, pro-Reagan lobbying group, 1985; chairman of college Republicans and member of executive committee, Republican National Committee, early to mid-1980s.

FAMILY: Wife, Pam; five children.

QUOTE: "I'd love us to get our mitts on that moolah." Abramoff, in an e-mail to an ally, about an American Indian tribe's contributions to Democrats. Source: Associated Press

"The fear level on Capitol Hill, on a scale of 100, is 105," said Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute. "Anybody touched by Abramoff is having difficulty sleeping these days."

Abramoff, 46, also was to plead guilty to two counts of fraud today in a second case, involving a Florida business deal to buy a casino boat business. He was indicted last year in that case.

As part of Tuesday's plea deal, Abramoff will repay those he cheated, but it's unclear whether he can fully repay the $25 million in losses. He also is liable for $1.7 million in back taxes and penalties. The charges carry maximum penalties of 30 years in jail, but sentencing guidelines and his cooperation could bring that down to about 10 years.

A charging document accompanying the plea deal described an arrangement between Abramoff and a House member previously identified as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, by the lawmaker's attorney. The House member did favors for Abramoff clients in return for "a stream of things of value," including travel, meals and entertainment, the document says.

In a statement, Ney denied he had been influenced by Abramoff. "At the time I dealt with Jack Abramoff, I obviously did not know, and had no way of knowing, the self-serving and fraudulent nature" of his activities, the statement said.

The probe goes beyond Ney's office. At least 12 lawmakers, their aides or other officials are the focus of the probe, say two federal officials briefed on the matter but who aren't authorized to speak publicly about ongoing investigations. It's unclear how many congressional offices are involved.

Abramoff built his lobbying practice over the past decade, raking in millions of dollars from clients who sought to harness his close government ties, especially Congress' GOP majority.

His specialty was representing Indian tribes with gambling interests, promising to protect them from federal taxation and competition.

In Senate hearings last year, Abramoff was portrayed as a power broker run amok. Testimony from tribal leaders and e-mails between Abramoff and his partner, Michael Scanlon, showed how they enriched themselves from the $82 million they billed the tribes. Scanlon, a former DeLay aide, pleaded guilty in November to fraud and bribery.